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ローゼンメイデン 
December 26, 2005 | 
44 Comments
Well, here is the first of the two special episodes included in the DVD. This episode ended up being included in Disc Vol.5 while the other will actually be included in Disc Vol.7. This episode itself is hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing from start to finish when I was watching this. Having said that, I understand now why the animators decided to exclude this episode from the original broadcast. The storyline is mostly comedic and has little to no relevance to the on-going plot. But if you're a fan of the series, this is a must see. The plot itself is about Lohmeyer/Romaiya sempai, a masculine but kind guy who lives in the same apartment building as Takemoto, Morita, and Mayama. As you can see from the pictures, everyone can't help but falling in love with him because he always brings a lot of meat. ^_^
The episode begins with the gang minus Shuuji talking about Lohmeyer/Romaiya sempai. Hagu has never heard about the guy and is surprised when she finds out that everyone looks like they have a crush on him. Because of this Takemoto tells her a story about how he first met Lohmeyer sempai. Back then everyone was still a struggling, poor student so they had nothing else but Soumen to eat. Morita was not happy about this because he wanted meat. Mayama, in his desperation, thought that maybe he'll feel better if he uses some kind of meat aromatherapy. Anyway, as Mayama and Takemoto left the kitchen, Takemoto realised that he's never seen the occupant of Room 103. Mayama explained that the room belongs to Lohmeyer sempai, a student who's taking a break from his school to take care of his sick old man. Mayama also told Takemoto that Lohmeyer is kind, strong, gentle, smells good, and .... juicy. XD
Not long after Mayama said this, however, Lohmeyer sempai returned to the apartment and was instantly glomped by everyone. Takemoto was surprised to see the guy in question to be Japanese and morever, a popular one at that. Lohmeyer told everyone that he actually got back yesterday but he decided to stop at work and his employer wouldn't allow him to leave. Cut to more picture of Lohmeyer glompage. Lohmeyer then showed everyone that he's got some meat for everyone. Being the meat whore that they are, everyone immediately gorged upon the feast that Lohmeyer has brought with him. Lohmeyer even urged them to eat more because the ham couldn't possibly last long and offer some tomatoes which he grew in his farm. Someone asked Lohmeyer how his father is doing and much to their relief, it seems the old man is doing fine. Having said that Lohmeyer said that he's got to make some money before the next harvest.
While Lohmeyer was talking, Takemoto noticed that Lohmeyer has thick arms and broad chest. Because of this, he believed that Lohmeyer could have easily support six-person family quite well. On top of this, when everyone told him that it's hard to get a job in Tokyo, he offered everyone to come to his house because then he'll be able to take care of them and they will always have something to eat. Upon hearing this, everyone immediately falls head over heels for Lohmeyer sempai (ROTFL). Mayama even remarked that for a split second, he believed he experienced how a girl feels when she is proposed to by a guy. Of course it doesn't help that Morita and the others went around proclaiming their undying love for Lohmeyer sempai. Two weeks later, everyone looked unusually healthy and happy thanks to Lohmeyere's never ending supply of meat. Morita, who usually slacks around was even capable of concetrating and produced some kind of artwork.
Everyone thought that their meat-filled days will never end but one day they found out from Takemoto that Lohmeyer has returned to his house because his father is sick again. So once again everyone became the poor starving students that they were prior to Lohmeyer's return to their lives. In the second story, Mayama and Takemoto were on their way to campus when Takemoto noticed a poster featuring a dog-like mascot stating that 'Legendary Hero' is requested once more. Upon reading some more, Takemoto realised that the place referred to in the poster, Arakawa Land, is some kind of a desolute park so he wondered if 'Legendary Hero' actually exists in that place. He, however, became surprise when he saw Mayama turning into a shoujo manga character complete with sparkles. Mayama told Takemoto that a few years ago 'Legendary Hero' did exist in that park. Cue flashback to the time when a family visited the park looking for the mascot.
The mascot, which is called Nyanzaburou, was offering a chance for kids to take a photo with him. The parents, however, were a bit wary about the offer. First of all, the park was kind of quiet and secondly, it's hard to tell if the mascot is actually in the form a dog, a cat, and a human. They, however, didn't have to wonder for too long because shortly after looking at the poster, a giant dog mascot walked towards them. The parents at first were afraid of the mascot but eventually warm up to him and they even started falling in love with it. Meanwhile in the nearby area, a group of students who aspire to become punk bullied their teacher when that said teacher asked them not to smoke in the park. So it's up to Nyanzaburou to teach them some manners and the importance of a hug. It didn't take long before these wannabe punks were tamed. Mayama then explained how the park was built by a guy called Arakawa Ninzaburou, in order to preserve his family name.
Unfortunately the park was not very popular and people prefer to go to the more flashy park in the neighbouring towns. In order to encourage more visitors, Arakawa devised a mascot called Nyanzaburou. At one point, however, they needed to find a replacement guy to wear the suit. Despite the fact that he is a lot taller than his predecessor, Lohmeyer sempai actually got the gig. During his two years of performing as Nyanzaburou, the visitors increased 10 times. It seems this Nyanzaburou was popular amongst men and old men. Mayama thinks that this is because deep down men wants to be hugged just like a kid and Nyanzaburou provides this opportunity for them. Upon hearing this, Takemoto realises that Lohmeyer sempai always provide security for others who need it. Having said that, he can't help but wonder who will help Lohmeyer sempai when he's in trouble? The episode then ends with a new Nyanzaburou performing a money-themed song in front of the audience. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who's the guy inside the suit.
Impression:
Uhm, what am I supposed to say here? Oh right, men need hugs. LOL. Come to think of it, I'll hug a Nyanzaburou too if there's such mascot. XD Oh right, well, there is nothing much that I can say apart from the fact that this episode is hilarious from start to finish. The concept of Lohmeyer sempai in itself is genius! I love how every single person who comes in contact with the guy ends up having a crush on him, even when he's wearing that silly dog/cat costume. I also think that it's not difficult to guess that Morita ended up being the new Nyanzaburou. He seems to love the mascot so much and with his talent as a singer, I think he'll be a rather interesting Nyanzaburou. Although his money-loving obsession can clash with the spirit/concept of Nyanzaburou. Anyway, animation-wise, this is a top-notch production and I am happy that I bought the DVD. I'll talk a bit more about the DVD as soon as I get the time to do so, so if you're interested, check the blog in a few days.
omgosh!! THEY HAVE A SPECIAL!!!!!!! sooo happi!!! sankyuu for telling!!
sweet! They animated meat senpai! Crap, gotta find this now...
Thank you for all the pictures!
Do you know when Honey and Clover is going to be airing in the United States? I really want to see this anime.
Is Honey and Clover one of your favorites? The pastel, artistic style gives off a beautiful and clean sensation, so that's why I favor this anime so much.
On the scale of 0% to 100%, where do you think this anime would fall? (Please guesstimate) I want to see Honey and Clover is worth my time, since most animes don't. (Please, no offense given)
I really, REALLY wish that this series hits our shores in North America in an R1 format, so I can enjoy the DVDs without having to mess with my DVD players too much. :D This episode sounds like a must-see.
The *BEST* episode of H&C *EVER*!!! I was laughing thoroughout the whole episode so hard I had tears in my eyes!
Romaiya senpai is the best!
BTW Bai Guang, H&C is so worth watching. More so if you fall into the early 20s / college years range. There's no reason not to watch it! :D
I would really have to recommend Honey and Clover. I personally would give it about 3 episodes to fully get into the series though.
Read the review!
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/reviews/display.php?id=886
Is it just me, or did the seiyu for Kazu-san voice Lohmeyer-sempai as well? He does remind me of Kazu-san, in terms of character design... though I dont' know if anyone would describe the latter as 'juicy'. :D
Still, he does seem to radiate the 'warmth' that everyone would love... and did. I just saw the RAW, and damn, but this was a fun episode.
It seems that everyone is very optimistic about "Honey and Clover," and I'm glad. Thank you, everyone, who answered my question. However, I am only fourteen years old, so I was wondering if this anime is appropriate for me, since it's targeted at older teens and college students. Is there any inappropriate scenes in this anime that I should be warned about?
First time I see someone worrying about their age... Anyhow, dont think theres anything wrong with the series when it comes to younger people, but it might (or not) affect your enjoyment of the show and the problems it shows. Also I'd suggest staying away from it if you are VERY into ninja, fighting and such shows - but then again, you wouldnt be worrying about age in that case. xD
Bai Guang - I wouldn't stay away from it - it has humor enough for everyone. However, you'll probably get more out of it once you've been in college or university a few years, or have just gotten out of it... since you'll know EXACTLY how everyone's feeling there, having been there yourself.
Yeah, H&C is very good.
I think it doesn't matter much how old you are. It's still couple years for me before i go to college and fully enjoyed this.
Bai Guang: I recently showed my 14-year-old sister Honey and Clover. She's into anime that's either bubblegum or hyper-genki. She wanted to give up after the first few episodes, but I dragged her through all 24. Even after explaining all the themes in the series, she didn't really care. She said Morita was the only reason she kept watching.
The themes didn't matter to her because she hasn't experienced them. However, I'm still glad I showed it all to her. While Honey & Clover is a series better understood by a mature audience, I felt it was a series she might remember and rewatch when she's older.
In addition, there isn't anything ultra violent or sexual, so there was no discomfort in watching the series with her. I don't think you should be too worried about inappropriate scenes.
Ohhh so he also appears is the anime~!!
yay!! thanks for the review
*sniff....sniff*..I'm so happy that the series has continued with some kind of special segment that includes the gang....the screenshots look hysterical..alas I feel like I'm in a nostalgic cloud relieving all the good times from the series. I cannot wait to watch this!!!*glomps computer*
Hehe, this was a beautiful episode. It was so nice to see Honey and Clover again~ I missed the artsy animation toooo. Inspires me to get back to reading the manga volumes I bought... Since I had read the Romaiya-sempai story before...
Bai Guang - Hmm... I am 16 years old and this series is either my favorite anime series ever, or one of my favorites. You should probably give it a chance. Though, wait five or so episodes before you drop it if you don't like the beginning.
Although I may not have gone through college or anything... I feel like I fully enjoyed the series. Or maybe I am just weird.
I'm so excited that H&C showed again after their ending one month ago!! Waiting for Episode 2 ,thanks for Garten's comment!!
I really appreciated all of these answers/comments to my questions. Once again, thank you all!
Speaking of which... this story covers the missing "Ham Guy" tale that you mentioned back in Ep 3 or 4, doesn't it, Garten? :D
Haesslich, you're right. This episode pretty much covers the 'Ham guy' tale as well as the "Nyanzaburou' omake from Manga vol.1
Well, at least he's shown up - and you were right - this was hilarious. Granted, it didn't advance the story at all... but it was bloody fun, especially as Morita was ALL over Lohmeyer-senpai, both in his normal form as well as the Nyanzaburou costume. Was this the same seiyu who did Kazu? His character design seems similar (big, tall fellow with a rough face but a pleasant manner), although it was... interesting.. to watch Mayama 'lust' over someone who wasn't Rika.
How well did Yamada and company know him, anyways? Surely not as well as the meat-starved students who shared his residence, as well as his largesse - I couldn't translate that first part very well, or at all. I got bits and pieces, but not enough to understand what she was saying as she drank, just at the start of that episode, when Takemoto was talking about Lohmeyer-senpai.
Heh, looks funny. I'll wait until the subs to watch this one though. It's nice seeing them all again...
Though if you're a sensitive vegetarian (which I'm not, but my cousin is and my mother is to, to an extent), this episode would lose a bit of its humour... I guess it wouldn't apply to most people though!
Ah I'm so glad to see Honey and Clover again. This is one of the funniest episodes of the series. I'm so happy they actually animated this part of the story. I was wondering where the "Ham Guy" went! ^_^ I can't express how funny it is to see the guys spazz over meat XD
Also, to Bai Guang, I'm sure you've already decided on the matter, but I would say that depending on your maturity level you may be able to enjoy the series. Like everyone else here, it might be better/fully enjoyed if you were a bit older as some of the themes, feelings, and concepts in the series are geared towards older teen/college age kids. That is, you may not really feel or get it since you have yet to experience them. The impact of such would be different. But, of course it really depends on you. If you like really fast paced, hyper, flashy anime, this wouldn't be the right one to watch. This is more heartfelt and thought provoking I suppose. So if that's something you're willing to try (or already like), definitely check this out.
I had my brother (15 almost 16) watch the series and he really liked it. Then again, my brother is slightly more mature than most of his age. We even discussed the themes and situations in the series. There aren't any explicit scenes in the show at all, so it's safe enough for kids to watch, though they may not enjoy it as much. It might be too slow for them.
Still, I would give it a chance. Keep watching past the first three episodes. It takes a while to sink in and get used to. Also, to me, it's a great series to rewatch. There are lots of things you miss watching it only once. After watching the entire series, rewatching makes you appreciate the development of the characters and what is to come. : )
As for maturity level, would you say that experiencing the junior years in high school would be mature enough? I skipped some grades, and though classmates thought that I, being 13 at the time, was not old enough to experience the pressure of high school and the SATs just yet, I still thought that I was was an older person than I really am...
(Sigh) And I don't turn 15 until next October...
My advice - just watch it and enjoy it. There are things you MAY not get right away... but you'll run into those situations soon enough, and you'll know EXACTLY how funny those scenes in the series are. The 'falling in love' thing Takemoto goes through, as well as the situation with him and Morita and Hagu, is something you may already have gone through... so that one should hit home for you pretty well.
Some of the stuff, such as the tribulations which come with living away from home, and the food situations seen in the series, however, you may need to actually go through to appreciate. Don't worry about whether you'll 'appreciate' the series enough right now - just go on and get it... and then rewatch it once you've survived your first month at college. What you may have missed the first time will hit you square between the eyes then - and you'll laugh or groan, depending on whether you commiserate with the characters, or if you're in the exact same situation they're in.
Bai Guang, I think you will like Hagu's progression in Honey and Clover.
By the way, Garten, why are you missing one of the best screencaps from this episode? The whole 'Mayama goes Shoujo Manga' scene at the start of the Nyanzaburou section of the story's probably one of the best parts of this DVD-only story. :D
Hehe, I was doing them in a hurry and forgot about that one. I am actually planning to redo some of the screenshots since I'm not too happy with some of them. So yeah, rest assured it'll be included as soon as I have the time to do it. :)
I took a screenshot of that myself, to share with a friend who's been putting off watching the series. :D That and the "grassy field" appearances... well, it's so out of sorts for the series that it's hilarious when Mayama (the most stable of the men there) suddenly goes into 'full-blast shoujo manga' mode.
Oh, man, now I really want to watch this one! The Romaiya-senpai chapter was priceless! I hope the fansubbers can pick this up :) But then, I guess they'd have to acquire the DVD...
Hi, making my first comment here! I have been following this anime blog for a few weeks, and I must say it's thoughtfully written, neat, colourful and seems to have a light-hearted feel to it. ^^ Nice work on maintaining this site, Garten! Keep it up!
So far I haven't seen any fansubs for Chapter L appear yet... -_- Btw is this special a one hour episode? I absolutely love Hachikuro!!! Can't wait for this episode...been having withdrawal symptoms already...I also updated ANN with the 2 special episodes from the DVD listed. From my scant knowledge of Japanese (only can read a bit of kanji), the next special is based on Fujiwara Design, the company where Mayama formerly works at.
Hi Weils, I don't think the fansub is available yet. This is rather strange since it's been a few weeks since the raw was available. As for your question, unfortunately this is only a half hour episode. It's a shame really, because I wouldn't mind another half hour. :)
As for a fansub release, from C1anime today: "We're going to be releasing quite a bit of stuff pretty soon, we hope at least... [a]s well as the special episode of Honey and Clover which we are working hard on."
No word from Solar, the other group that was actively fansubbing Hachikuro - although they definintely have a link to the raw.
I can't wait for this to get subbed.x.x Meanwhile, I've been looking all over for a translated version of the manga as well as forcing all my friends to watch Hachikuro. They love it once they see Morita; doesn't everybody?XD I can really relate to it, too, since I'm a freshman in college, and I have some of the same problems that certain characters have.:3 I also showed it to my little brother, and he's addicted to it now. Mwahaha...and so I spread the influence of the cult...*cackles*
By the way, is there any place I can find the translated version of the manga? I'm dying for more Hachikuro.;.; Watching the anime at least 5 times in 3 months is so not enough.XD
thanks heaps for those pics.
love honey and clover so much!
Finally I had a chance to watch this episode! One word: HILARIOUS!!
It' s 20 min of pure laugh xD
i would really like meat senpai's music anyone know how to get it?
you know the "oh oh oh oh oh" deep voiced men music!
Yeah, this got subbed yesterday - best 'comedy' H&C episode, EVER. Only a matter of time till someone puts up a Ro-maiya fanlisting or something.
Only a matter of time until that happens.:3
Yeah totally hilarious!
P.s I love the money song by Morita-san lololol
Ro-Maiya senpai!! Is the best of bests *-*
This is one of the best chapters of the anime *-*
I love this chapter *-*
Ro-Maiya Senpai forever!!!! >o
this is my favourite honey & clover episode ever!! i am so happy to have found this blog... i was trying to explain honey & clover to a friend, and just was not able to do it justice...
very funny!! who was the guy making noodles btw? ta. :)
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